News Summary
As the Detroit Red Wings prepare for the upcoming NHL season, analysis reveals standout performances from key players last season. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat highlighted their offensive dynamism with impressive goal-scoring statistics. Head Coach Todd McLellan’s hiring led to a dramatic improvement in power-play efficiency. The team also saw strong defensive contributions from Moritz Seider and significant efforts from goalie John Gibson. As they look to build on these successes, the Red Wings aim to enhance their roster for a competitive future.
Detroit – As the Detroit Red Wings gear up for the 2025-26 NHL season, advanced statistics reveal significant insights into key players’ performances from the last season. The Red Wings finished tied for fourth in the league for midrange goals, scoring a total of 88, showcasing their ability to find the net from various distances.
Specific standout performances include Lucas Raymond, who ranked tied for fourth in the league with 17 midrange goals, and teammate Alex DeBrincat, who was not far behind with 15, placing him tied for ninth. While DeBrincat led the team with 39 goals and clocked in 13 power-play goals, both he and Dylan Larkin shared a notable achievement in their power-play contributions.
The Red Wings greatly improved their power-play effectiveness after hiring Todd McLellan as head coach on December 26, reaching an NHL-high power-play percentage of 30.2%. This tactical change has allowed players like Raymond to excel. He led the Red Wings in scoring, achieving a career-high of 80 points, driven in part by a high offensive time percentage of 45.6, placing him in the 89th percentile, coupled with a dominating power-play success rate of 64.9, ranking in the 97th percentile.
Alongside the offensive dynamism from players like Raymond and DeBrincat, Larkin showcased excellence in an assortment of advanced metrics. He recorded 234 speed bursts above 20 mph, ranking in the 97th percentile, while logging a total skating distance of 274.26 miles (99th percentile, fifth among forwards). His proficiency continued with 80 high-danger shots on goal (95th percentile) and 21 high-danger goals (97th percentile), just outside the NHL’s top 10 names in scoring.
On the defensive end, Moritz Seider emerged as a cornerstone for the team, holding at least 80th percentile rankings in eight critical advanced metrics. Notably, Seider recorded peak skating speeds of 22.88 mph (90th percentile) and a total skating distance that mirrored Larkin’s at 291.30 miles, positioning him fifth among all NHL players. His offensive contributions also shone through, with an impressive shot speed of 95.54 mph (81st percentile) and effective power-play offensive zone time of 62.7% (94th percentile).
Goalie John Gibson, newly acquired by the Red Wings, put forth a .912 save percentage across 29 games and excelled in long-range save percentage with a .990 ranking, second only to Jeremy Swayman. Gibson aims to regain his form following a disappointing two seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, where he failed to maintain a save percentage above .900.
Even as depth player Justin Holl participated in 73 games and recorded over 1,000 minutes of ice time, he faced challenges, leading the squad with 66 giveaways and finishing with a minus-20 goal differential. Despite this, his efforts in delivering 35 hits and blocking 78 shots reflect a commitment to defensive integrity.
The Red Wings are focused on building upon the positive contributions from younger players such as Raymond, Seider, and Marco Kasper, while strategically addressing the performance gaps among underperforming veterans. With stats reflecting promising talent and areas for improvement, the upcoming offseason presents an opportunity for Detroit to enhance their roster and build closer towards playoff contention.
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Additional Resources
- NHL: Red Wings NHL Edge Stats
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sidney Crosby
- The Hockey Writers: Player Grades
- Google Search: Detroit Red Wings
- NHL: Impact of Coaching Change
- New York Times: Derek Lalonde
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